Simona Halep, the former world No. 1 in tennis, has been charged with a second breach of doping rules. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) made the announcement on Friday. The new charge relates to irregularities in Halep’s athlete biological passport (ABP). An independent ABP expert panel assessed her profile and found the irregularities. Halep has already been provisionally suspended since October 2022 after testing positive for the banned blood-booster roxadustat at the US Open last year.
Halep’s Defense
Halep has denied knowingly taking the banned substance and stated that she has evidence that proves low quantities of the anti-anemia drug entered her body because of an authorized supplement that was contaminated. In a lengthy statement posted to her Twitter account on Friday, Halep again called on tennis’ anti-doping body to allow her to clear her name. She questioned the long delay in her doping hearing. “Since October 7, when I got charged by the ITIA for a suspicion of doping, I have lived the worst nightmare I have ever gone through in my life,” Halep said in the statement. “Not only has my name been soiled in the worst possible way, but I am facing a constant determination from the ITIA for a reason that I cannot understand, to prove my guilt while I haven’t EVER even thought of taking any illicit substance.”
The ITIA’s Response
The ITIA has stated that it would be inappropriate to comment on specifics until the conclusion of the process. Nicole Sapstead, senior director for anti-doping at the ITIA, said in a statement, “We understand that today’s announcement adds complexity to an already high-profile situation… We have remained committed to engaging with Ms. Halep in an empathetic, efficient and timely manner… but we will continue to engage with the Sport Resolutions independent tribunal and Ms. Halep’s representatives as expeditiously as possible.”
The Hearing
Halep has been waiting for a hearing since October 2022. She stated in her Twitter statement that she tried two times to have the opportunity to be judged by an Independent Tribunal but the ITIA has constantly found reasons to postpone. Halep looks forward “to finally being able to present my case” at a hearing scheduled for the end of May. She noted that she has “full trust in justice.”
Leave a Reply